Globalization Concepts by Arjun Appadurai

Neoliberalism

• Neoliberalism is a term for political and economic policies associated with unrestrained free-market global capitalism.
• It emphasizes individual freedoms and limited government intervention in the economy.
• Key policies include enhancing free market capitalism, reducing government spending and regulation, and promoting globalization.

Pros and Cons of Neoliberalism

• Critics argue that Neoliberal policies exacerbate economic and social inequalities.
• Inequality, financial and employment instability, and monopolies are downsides of Neoliberalism.

Neoliberalism in the Philippines

• Successive Philippine administrations, particularly under Fidel Ramos and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, pursued tariff reductions and integration into global markets.
• The National Water Crisis Act of 1997 led to the privatization of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.

Industrial Revolutions

First Industrial Revolution

• Late 18th to mid-19th century, beginning in Britain.
• Key features: transition from hand production methods to machines, new chemical manufacture, iron production process, and increased use of steam power and water power.

Second Industrial Revolution

• Late 19th to early 20th century.
• Rapid industrialization and growth of existing industries with new methods such as the assembly line.

Third Industrial Revolution

• Late 20th century.
• Also known as the Digital Revolution.
• Key features: shift from mechanical and analog electronic technology to digital electronics, emergence of computers and automated systems.

Fourth Industrial Revolution

• 21st century onwards.
• Builds on the Digital Revolution and represents new ways in which technology becomes embedded within societies and even the human body.
• Key features: advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, 3D printing, quantum computing, and nanotechnology.

Agricultural Revolutions

• Advantages: stable food supply, increased productivity, population growth, technological innovations, economic opportunities, improved standard of living, and global hunger reduction.
• Disadvantages: environmental impact, social inequality, health issues, loss of biodiversity, and labor intensity.

Globalization

• Concept defined by anthropologist Arjun Appadurai as occurring on multiple and intersecting dimensions of integration, including:
  • Ethnoscape (global movement of people)
  • Mediascape (flow of culture)
  • Technoscape (circulation of mechanical goods and software)
  • Financescape (global circulation of money)
  • Ideoscape (realm where political ideas move around)
• Pros of globalization: improved lives of many Filipinos, inexpensive and varied products, savings to consumers, and opportunities for small landowners.
• Cons of globalization: high-paying jobs abroad lure many Filipinos away from their families and country, imported commodities kill local industries, and farm lands are sold and converted into golf courses.